Govt. to re-tender Mannar and Pooneryn wind power projects

Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody sais that fresh international tenders will be called for the wind power projects in Mannar and Pooneryn, which were previously allocated for development.

Speaking at a media briefing yesterday (Aug. 15), the Minister said the projects will be awarded to the lowest and most successful bidder. “Based on the requirement, we will go for a tender and give it to the best bidder. Even Adani or any other party can bid,” he stated.

The decision comes after India’s Adani Group withdrew from its wind power deals with Sri Lanka in February this year, following the new government’s move to renegotiate the project at a lower price.

The previous administration had agreed on a unit cost of 8.26 US cents for wind power, while President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s government sought to reduce it to below 6 US cents.

“The discussion we had with Adani was to see if they could reduce the price to around 5 US cents per unit. They withdrew with mutual understanding,” Minister Jayakody explained.